The most cost-effective means of constructing a porcelain plank roof or balcony deck where the planks are less than 16” wide.
The Archatrak rail support system entails laying plank style porcelain pavers over a parallel array of aluminum rails supported by either Archatrak NM or Premier pedestals. Rail systems require fewer pedestals than traditional elevated surfaces, saving money and simplifying installation.
A rubber strip is first run along the rails to minimize noise transmission and paver spacers are then slid along the central channel in the rail.
The porcelain planks are then placed over the rails, separated by the sliding spacer tabs. Both ends of the planks are positioned over the center line of the rails.
benefits of the archatrak rail support system for pavers
Less Pedestals Required
Rails span between pedestals, providing support for narrow pavers
Quicker and Easier Installation
Long rails require few pedestals with less leveling and adjustments than pavers directly on pedestals
Resists Sideways Movement
Flat, parallel rails ensure tight paver spacing
More Flexibility with Paver Sizes
Rails accommodate designs with variable width planks
installation
Considerations for Rail System
- Rail systems are not needed for porcelain planks wider than 12″.
- Reinforcement sheets or should be installed on the underside of porcelain planks in situations where hard objects might be accidentally dropped on the deck or where deck heights are greater than 4”. At present we offer PaverGuard Adhesive Pads for attachment to the underside of 12” wide planks.
- For commercial, high traffic applications, we recommend using pedestal supported FRP grating to support porcelain planks, rather than a rail system.
- The aluminum rails will add 25mm (1”) to the height of the deck system, so if our lowest height pedestal (Archatrak NM1) is used to support the rails, the surface height of the deck using a 2cm porcelain paver will be 2 ¾” min.
- The spacing between both the parallel rails and the pedestals situated under the rails will depend on the intended use and the width of the pavers used.
Technical Specs
Datasheet
Rail Paver System
Frequently asked questions about rail systems for porcelain paver decks
A rail supported porcelain plank system uses aluminum rails mounted on adjustable pedestals to support narrow porcelain pavers or planks. Instead of supporting each paver individually, the rails distribute the load across multiple pedestals, creating a more stable, efficient, and cost-effective elevated deck system.
Rail systems are typically used for porcelain planks less than 16″ wide, where direct pedestal support would require a high number of pedestals. They are well suited for rooftop decks, balconies, and other elevated applications where improved stability, reduced lateral movement, and layout flexibility are desired. For higher load or high-traffic applications, additional support can be achieved by reducing the spacing between pedestals and rails to meet project-specific performance requirements.
Noise can be minimized by applying adhesive rubber tape or isolation strips to the top of the aluminum rails before installing the porcelain pavers or planks. This cushioning layer reduces direct contact between the pavers and the rails, helping to absorb vibration, limit impact noise, and prevent rattling under foot traffic. Proper installation and consistent support spacing also contribute to a quieter, more stable deck surface.
For additional sound reduction add Archatrak Sound Abosorbing Pads beneath the pedestals.
Rail support systems provide increased stability by distributing loads across continuous aluminum rails rather than individual pedestal points. This results in greater resistance to sideways movement of pavers and a more secure overall installation. Rail systems also offer greater flexibility to accommodate planks of varying widths and lengths, while reducing the number of pedestals required for narrower plank formats. In some applications, they can also help minimize or eliminate the need for perimeter containment.
